The Way We Live

...and how our choices impact our environment

Educator Resources

Find educational resources easily. The full list of resources is available in alphabetical order by title. You may also search by grade levels, subjects and topics. To search for multiple grades, subjects or topics, press and hold the CTRL key (Windows) or Command key (Mac) on your keyboard then click to select the materials you need. Many of the educational resources can be downloaded from the website.

Gratitude letter

Show your thanks, and teach your students how to show and share their gratitude. Being grateful enhances well-being and deepens one’s sense of meaning. Authors Martin Seligman and Tal Ben-Sharar suggest writing to people who have positively impacted your life.

Grist writer David Roberts talks about how, once basic needs are met, happiness comes from social connections, personal autonomy and recognition. Article includes links to other articles about happiness research.

Green Ninja — Footprint Renovation

This light, humorous, and inspiring 2:49 minute video shows how to transform a home to reduce ecological footprint.

Videos

3-5, 6-8, 9-12, Post-secondary

Arts, Science, 21st Century

Reduction/Consumption, Recycle/Reuse/Compost

Gumfounded (by Garr, Sherry B.)

Check your library or store for this resource.

While walking to school, Tia steps on a piece of gum. That leads to a whole mess of other problems, as the gum keeps picking up other litter. Tia is left walking with a mountain of litter attached to her shoes.

Happiness video

This two-minute online video gets kids to think about happiness as it relates to stuff. The moral of the video: "One small thing you love can make you happier than a ton of stuff." Appropriate for 1st-3rd grades, and possibly other ages.

Hey, Little Ant (by Hoose, Phillip M. and Hannah Hoose)

Readers look at life from an insect's point of view in this story. A boy talks with an ant he wants to squish, and the ant pleads for his life, saying "You are very much like me." To learn one way to use this in the classroom, check out the activity, To Squish or Not.

1998: Tricycle Press 1883672546 (Illustrated picture book, 28 pgs.)

Book/Reading

3-5, 6-8

Language Arts, Social Studies, 21st Century

Citizenship/Service

Home (by Baker, Jeannie)

Check your library or store for this resource.

This wordless book begins with a mother and father holding their newborn in an urban environment with only a trace of the natural world. As the baby grows, so too does the greening of the neighborhood, turning a drab city street into a living, thriving home.

How to Streamline Your Life and Still Enjoy the Heck Out of It (by Fisk, Umbra: Grist magazine)

This talented columnist, also known as "Ask Umbra," writes a short manifesto (10 tips) encouraging Americans to take back their identities, asking "Ever wonder when We the People stopped being called citizens and started being called consumers?" Her tips range from "prioritizing" and "voting," to "enjoying what you have."

Book/Reading

6-8, 9-12, Post-secondary

Social Studies, 21st Century

Citizenship/Service, Reduction/Consumption, Living Well

How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming (by Cherry, Lynne and Gary Braasch)

Check your library or store for this resource.

In this 66-page nonfiction book is the science behind headlines about climate change, and what actions youth can take.

2008: Dawn Publications 1584691034 (66 pgs., Nonfiction)

Book/Reading

3-5, 6-8, 9-12, Post-secondary

Science

Citizenship/Service

Hungry Planet What the World Eats (by Menzel, Peter and Faith D'Aluisio )

Check your library or store for this resource.

This 288-page nonfiction book, featuring 30 families from 24 countries around the world, presents a photographic study of the foods they eat in one week.

If America Were a Village (by Smith, David J. )

Check your library or store for this resource.

This book describes what the US would look like if its population of 306 million were represented as a village of 100. Fascinating statistics such as 5 people (1 person represents 3 million people) have more than half of US wealth, US owns more cars than any other county, is 50% larger than in 1950, and 82 of 100 Americans consider themselves Christian. Great with Food for Thoughtactivity.

If the World Were a Village (by Smith, David J. )

Check your library or store for this resource.

If 6 billion people on the planet were a village of 100, what would it look like? The book explains whom lives in the village, where they live, how fast the village is growing, what languages are spoken, what religions are practiced and more. Great with Food for Thought lesson plan.

Into Darfur: A Young American’s Journey

A 5-minute video about an 18-year-old’s journey to Darfur and his experience. Because it’s done on with a camera video, it has an authentic quality to it, and may be a video to inspire young people to contribute to social change.

Videos

6-8, 9-12, Post-secondary

Arts, Language Arts, Social Studies, 21st Century

Citizenship/Service, Global Studies

Introduction to Consumption and Waste: Round the Room Activities

By doing short tasks at five stations around the room, students are introduced to consumption and waste issues. The activities within this lesson plan may also be used as standalone activities integrated into other lesson plans.